The Toyota Fuel Cell Vehicle

Even the techies at Popular Science like the Toyota Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV). The magazine named the sedan to a 2014 Best of What’s New winner in the auto category.

“For 27 years, Popular Science has honored the innovations that surprise and amaze us − those that make a positive impact on our world today and challenge our view of what's possible in the future,” said Cliff Ransom, Editor-in-Chief of Popular Science. “The Best of What's New Award is the magazine's top honor, and the 100 winners − chosen from among thousands of entrants − each a revolution in its field.”

The Toyota FCV: Technology at a Glance

What is it? The FCV is an all-electric, four-door sedan that makes its own electricity on board.  It utilizes the same hybrid technology developed for Toyota’s hybrid synergy drive systems but replaces the gasoline engine with a fuel cell stack.

How does it work? The FCV features hydrogen fuel tanks (the hydrogen is a compressed gas, similar to a natural gas vehicle), an electric motor, a fuel cell stack, a small battery and a power control unit.  The hydrogen gas is fed into the fuel cell stack where it is combined with oxygen. The hydrogen and oxygen move through the fuel cell stack and create a chemical reaction, producing electricity to power the vehicle. 

What’s the benefit? It takes less than five minutes to refuel. It has a range of 300 miles. And the only emission from the tailpipe is water vapor. 

What’s next? The Toyota FCV hits the streets of California in late 2015.  Hydrogen refueling stations are popping up across the state and Toyota continues to partner with industry and government to support the continued growth of infrastructure in California and beyond. 

Toyota FCV Gets a Name (Mirai) and a Price (in the U.S.)

Aside from its potential implications for both the auto industry and the environment, as Toyota’s first mass-produced hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, the Mirai is still a car.

And as such, Toyota announced a few important details Monday during the car’s launch in Newport Beach, Calif.

First, as you may have read above, it’s got a name! Mirai is the Japanese word for “future,” and it serves as a clever nod to Toyota’s last revolutionary drivetrain. Now we know what “Prius” – Latin for “to come before” – was leading up to.

But perhaps even more interesting than the name was the announcement that the Mirai would sell in the United States for $57,500, not including government incentives. In some areas, customers can purchase the Mirai for less than $45,000 after state and federal incentives. Further, Toyota is offering a three-year, $499 per month lease with $3,649 down.

Mirai customers will enjoy an extensive 360-degree Ownership Experience that includes free hydrogen fuel for up to three years. Other benefits include:

• 24/7 concierge service, with calls answered by a dedicated fuel cell representative. 
• 24/7 enhanced roadside assistance, including towing, battery, flat tire assistance, trip interruption reimbursement, and loaner vehicle.
• Three years of Toyota Care maintenance, covering all recommended factory maintenance, up to 12,000 miles annually.
• Eight-year/100,000-mile warranty on fuel cell components.
• Entune and three years of complimentary Safety Connect, including hydrogen station map app.

Mirai will be available to customers in California beginning in fall 2015, with additional markets tracking the expansion of a convenient hydrogen refueling infrastructure.

For much more on the Mirai, click here: http://toyota.us/1oZDozf